Lawyers Lobby For Safer New York State Labor Laws

Lawyers Lobby For Safer New York State Labor Laws

Posted on Mar 9, 2007 12:50pm PST

Recent construction accident news supports David Perecman’s stance
that New York State labor laws need to be updated and strengthened to
protect worker’s rights. David H. Perecman, a New York City construction
accident lawyer and co-founder of the personal injury law firm of the
Perecman Firm made construction accident news when he told various committees
of the New York State Assembly that some New York State labor laws and
agencies must be updated and strengthened to adequately protect worker
safety on construction sites.

Mr. Perecman, Treasurer of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association
(NYSTLA) and Co-chair of the New York State Labor Law Committee, addressed
the Standing Committee on Cities, the Standing Committee on Codes, and
the Standing Committee on Housing on behalf of NYSTLA. Mr. Perecman spoke
to the Assembly regarding the effectiveness of New York’s body of
laws and enforcement agencies with respect to construction site safety.

With nearly three decades practicing law in the area of construction accidents,
Mr. Perecman told the Assembly that several New York State labor laws
are currently either outdated or have been diluted to a degree that no
longer helps workers. “Every year there are efforts to repeal, modify
or so entirely weaken or dilute the law so that it becomes ineffective
in saving lives and protecting workers. We must continue to protect these
laws,” said Mr. Perecman.

Speaking of several incidents in construction accident news and how they
have significantly affected the lives of injured workers and their families,
Mr. Perecman noted that labor laws, such as Labor Law Sections 240 and
241, are critical for the protection of construction workers and their
families. Construction sites, already dangerous places to work, will only
become more so if New York State labor laws will be completely stripped
of their effectiveness, he says.

“Not only must we create new rules and regulations in the City of
New York, and not only must we strengthen the agencies in the City of
New York, we must revisit, evaluate and update the New York Code of Rules
and Regulations while preserving Labor Law Sections 240 and 241,”
said Mr. Perecman.

“The point is simple: the rules and regulations of the Industrial
Code need to be updated, and Labor Law 240 must remain as strong as it
has been since the day of its passage,” he said.